Sipping brandy and water, Lord Windlehurst gave his latest quip.

They were all laughing heartily, when the butler entered the room and said, "Lady Eglington is here, and wishes to see your Grace." As the butler left the room, the Duchess turned despairingly to Windlehurst, who had risen, and was paler than the Duchess.

"It has come," she said, "oh, it has come! I can't face it." "But it doesn't matter about you facing it," Lord Windlehurst rejoined.
"Go to her and help her, Betty.

You know what to do--the one thing." He took her hand and pressed it.
She dashed the tears from her eyes and drew herself together, while her brother watched her benevolently.
He had not heard what was said.

Betty had always been impulsive, he thought to himself, and here was some one in trouble--they all came to her, and kept her poor.
"Go to bed, Dick," the Duchess said to him, and hurried from the room.
She did not hesitate now.